Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A misheard or misunderstood lyric, which gives the song a completely different meaning than originally intended. v. To misinterpret a song because you "hear" different words than the ones actually being sung.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Lieric
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: lie-rik
Sentence: it was only years later that he realised that singing 'Gold Blank Sign' on new years eve was a lieric embarrassment.
Etymology: lie, lyric
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COMMENTS:
terrific - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:17:00
Should Bald Acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind... - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:13:00
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Adversapropism
Created by: emdeejay
Pronunciation: Add verse à propism
Sentence: Wayne was of those amateur guitarists who seemed to know only half the words of the songs in his repertoire. When he gave his son an impromptu rendition of what he *thought* was "Sonny Be Good", his wife gave him the nickname "Dog Berry"
Etymology: Verse: component of a song that isn't a chorus. Malapropism: misuse of words, often humorously. Adverse: That doesn't sound quite right does it?
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COMMENTS:
clever combo - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:13:00
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Ballbadear
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: bahl bad eeeer
Sentence: his hearing loss turned him into a ballbadear, but when he first heard "tangled up in poo" he became a dylanquent
Etymology: balladeer, bad ear
Lyricnorance
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: lir-ik-ner-uhns
Sentence: John's lyricnorance led him to some strange conclusions about some of his favorite song writers. He thinks Jimi Hendrix was gay because of 'Scuse me, while I kiss this guy' and that some member of Creedence Clearwater Revival was incontinent when they sang 'There's a bathroom on the right'. His friends just howl when they take him out for karaoke night.
Etymology: lyrics (words to a song) + ignorance (lack of knowledge, inexperience)
Mangledupinblues
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: mang eld up in bloooze
Sentence: His mangledupinblues were frequent and severe, often leading to bouts of drinking alone in the basement of his hovel, wishing he was back home, awash in his subterrainian homesick booze
Etymology: tangled up in blue, mangled
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COMMENTS:
nice Dylan references - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:18:00
Ah the times, they are a chainging! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:12:00
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Tunerr
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: toon-air
Sentence: The kids loved it when Mr. Bevilaqua stood up in front of the class and tunerred the national anthem "....Oh Canada, we stand on cars and freeze..."
Etymology: tune (song) + err (misinterpret, distort)
Oopsydittie
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: oōpsēditē
Sentence: Everybody was used to hearing Jeff humming his favorite song as he went through his day. What they didn’t know until last Saturday night at the karaoke was that Jeff’s head contained an oopsydittie. As he belted out his fave, his friends realized he hadn’t gotten a single lyric right.
Etymology: oops (used to show recognition of a mistake or minor accident, often as part of an apology) + upsy-daisy (used to express encouragement to a child who has fallen or is being lifted) + dittie (a short simple song)
Singawrong
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sing a rong
Sentence: His singawrong in Dallas ended when he sang "Reminds me of my doctor's glove, Deep in the Heart of Texas".
Etymology: Sing a long (informal group singing of popular songs) & Wrong (incorrect;not appropriate for a purpose or occasion)
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COMMENTS:
You really know how to do a singawrong Alison! Opps I mean Nosila...lol too funny... - abrakadeborah, 2009-05-05: 01:48:00
funny - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:20:00
Sounds like a Jackie Chan Musical to me...and I rov Jackie Chan! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:16:00
I love this one. So simple and perfect. - hyperborean, 2009-05-06: 10:23:00
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Misunderheard
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: mis-under-herd
Sentence: Grandma shrugged, "You kids today with your hippity-hop and stupid lyrics -- why when I was young we had songs with meaning!" She sighed wistfully and began to sing to herself, "Knock, knock, knocking on Kevin's door." Grandpa stood up, "You've been singing that song wrong for the past 50 years, old woman. It's "Knock, knock knockin' on heaven's door" for crying out loud." "Well, I guess I misunderheard the lyrics, excuuuuuse me. And if you correct me again in front of the grandkids you'll be knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door sooner than you think."
Etymology: misunderstood: improperly understood or interpreted + heard
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COMMENTS:
wonderful word... - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
I just noticed that you used one of the same song title's in your sentence as I did....only I think Kevin is funnier tha Evan!!! - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
There's a herd of misunderheard today! Goodjob, mrsk! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:15:00
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Mystlyrical
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: mist/leer/i/cal
Sentence: One of the funniest mystlyricals I've heard was an interpretation of a line from the Eagles Hotel California 'On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair'
Etymology: mystical (secret)+ lyric + missed
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COMMENTS:
It's a lot like verbotomy...You can check out, but you can never leave! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:17:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl (misinterpreted words) and by abrakadeborah (misinterpreted meanings). And of course, by Bob Dylan's classic song about doing the laundry -- Blowing in the Wind ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-05: 01:02:00
Thank you James~ Cartoon was great! & To mrskellyscl,Oh how I can relate to that one! I have an ex boyfriend that no matter what song he hears NONE of the words match as he tries to sing along! Too funny! :) LOL
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl. Thank you mrskellyscl. ~ James